But I thank you for the present and desire porters to enable me to carry it away." "You desire porters," she repeated meditatively.

"We will talk of that when you have rested here a moon or two.

Meanwhile, give me Little Bonsa that she may be restored to her own place." Alan opened the tin box and lifting out the fetish, gave it to the priestess, who took it and with a serpentine movement of extraordinary grace glided from her chair on to her knees, holding the mask above her head in both hands, then thrice covered her face with it.

This done, she called to the priests, bidding them take Little Bonsa to her own place and give notice throughout the land that she was back again.

She added that the ancient Feast of Little Bonsa would be held on the night of the full moon within three days, and that all preparations must be made for it as she had commanded.
Then the head medicine-man, raising himself upon his knees, crept on to the dais, took the fetish from her hands, and breaking into a wild song of triumph, he and his companions crawled down the hall and vanished through the door, leaving them alone save for the Asika's husband.
When they had gone the Asika looked at this man in a reflective way, and Alan looked at him also through the eyeholes of his mask, finding him well worth studying.